300 years of Saint Petersburg:
Russia open for the world

St. Petersburg, October 27, 2003

Dear Sirs!

We are the North-West Division office of the Russian Union of Travel Industry. The RUTI (till 2001 – Russian Association of Tourism Agencies – RATA) is the largest business union in Russia . It was founded in 1993. Since 1995 RATA is a member of the United Federation of Travel Agencies Association (UFTAA) that represents Russia ; since 1997 – a member of the World Tourism Organization (WTO). In 2003 the Union has celebrated its 10 th anniversary. RUTI unites about 1000 tourism companies, hotels, sanatoriums, schools, mass media, insurance and transportation companies that deal in tourism, enterprises of leisure and entertainment infrastructure, including leading companies of Saint Petersburg and the North-West region.

On November 3-5, 2003 , a multifunctional exhibition “300 years of St.Petersburg: Russia open for the world” will take place in Milan , in the Quark Hotel (Via Lampedusa 11a). We are working on a tourism part of the event. On November 4, 2003 , from 3 PM to 6 PM , there will be a Russian – Italian tourism workshop. Among the Russian participants are several major St. Petersburg hotels, airlines, tour operators interested in close cooperation with Italian travel industry.

We kindly ask you for your cooperation in inviting Italian enterprises of travel industry to take place in the workshop. If possible, please let us know what other channels we might employ in order to invite Italian participants.

We are looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely, Sergei Korneyev

Vice-president, Director of the North-West Division Office of the Russian Union of Travel Industry

 

Itinerary of the complex of events on the North of Italy, “300 years of Saint Petersburg: Russia open for the world”

	DELEGATION OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION (NWFD)	DELEGATION OF SAINT PETERSBURG
	Milan
3.11.2003 Monday	Arrival in Milan (charter flight, around 9 AM ).
3.11.2003 Monday	Milan 12.00 – 18.00 - Exhibition “300 years of Saint Petersburg : Russia open for the world). Following industries are represented: agriculture, railway transportation, machine-building and metal-works, furniture, communications, tourism, textile. 13.00 – Official opening of the exhibition 14.00 -18.00 - round tables: wood and furniture industry, machine building and metal-works.	The Day of Saint Petersburg in Milan Presentation “ Saint Petersburg - the cultural capital of Russia ” Round table “ Milan – Saint Petersburg : partner cities” (Royal palace); Round table “ Saint Petersburg and Leningrad oblast : cooperation with Lombardia”. Opening of the demonstration model of Saint Petersburg (Vittorio Emmanuele gallery), presentation of the tourism information center. Opening of Saint Petersburg Information center (“Center for Russian-Italian relations development” Foundation). Meeting of the Global Club of Petersburgians. Over the whole period an exhibition where the Hermitage participates is open.
4.11.2003 Tuesday	Milan	Genoa
	The day of the North West  Federal District . 10.00-17.00 – the Conference “Business and investment capacities of the District” (including tourism ) Round table “Machine building and metal works” . During first break – official visit of the exhibition, including presentation of the Federation units at the North West exposition, and press-conference. Exhibition work .	The day of Saint Petersburg in Genoa 8.00-10.00 – Transfer to Genoa Presentation “ Saint Petersburg – the cultural and tourism center of Russia ” 15.00-17.00 – Transfer to Milan
	Milan
	19.00 – Concert of V. Gergiev's Orchestra. Presentations of the Hermitage, the Russian museum, the Petrodvorets and Pushkin in the foyer before the concert. 21.30 – Reception on behalf of the Russian delegation.
5.11.2003 Wednesday	Milan
	Individual business contacts with partners from Milan , Turin , Lombardia and Piedmont. Free time. Departure (charter flight, around 18.00) for Saint Petersburg.
6-9.11.2003	Additional trip to Venice and Florence may be organized upon request. In this case departure to Saint Petersburg will be on 2.11.2003.